COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

Shannon News, 11 December 1928, Page 4

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

MEETING OF HOROWHENUA COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Horowlienua County Council was held in the Comity Chambers, Levin, on Saturday, there being present: Mr G. A. Monk (chairman), Crs. Barber, Whyte, Bryant, Kilsby, Gimblett, Cat-ley and Jensen, Mr F. H. Hudson (County ■Clerk), and Mr J. T. M. Brewster (County Engineer). Leave of absence was granted to Cr. Ryder. The Pialto County Council forwarded a copy of a*, letter which it was circulating among jail lodal /authorities, in Which it viewed with great concern the' fact that a proposal to abolish heavy traffic fees should be entertained by the Government. It quoted Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., who, in giving his decision in the apportionment of license fees, in October, 1926, said that there was abundant evidence that since the increased use of motor lorries on the roads the local bodies had been put to an enormously increased cost of. maintenance. If this Council was of the -same opinion as the Piako Council —that heavy traffic fees should not be abolished, as being a fair method of making users of the roads pay—he trusted .that it would stress these views, and further take steps to see that 'the local bodies wlere strongly represented at the proposed conference to be held in the New Year. , The Chairman reinafikfed fhat this Council had already recorded that it was not in favour of any reduction of heavy traffic fees. He moved that it support the Piako Council in its endeavour to have the fees retained.

The motion was seconded by Cr Catlev, and carried.

OTAURU BRIDGE

Mr Albert Wood, of Otauru, Shannon, wrote asking permission to lay a half-inch pipe across the bridge thathad just been repaired over the Otauru stream in Shannon. He was having the Shannon Borough water supply lai 1 on to his fa ( rm, just across the stream, and it would be necessary to bring the pipe along the side of the bridge, the application was referred to the Engineer,‘ vvith power to act.

KARA STREAM BRIDGE AND APPROACHES.

With regard to the Kara Stream bridge approach, on the Levin-Palm-erston Highway, the/Makerua Drainage Board wrote regretting that it was unable to see its way to increasing its offer to pay one-quarter of the cost of providing a suitable access to Mr Tippler's property.

The Chairman moved that the matter be referred to Crs. Whvtc, Catley, himself and the Engineer, with instructions to meet a committee from tin: Makerua Drainage ’Board, on the ground, in an endeavour to reach finality- ‘

, The motion, which Avas seconded by ,Cr. Gimblett, was carried. The Makerua Drainage Board also wrote acknowledging receipt of the Council's account in connection .with the Kara bridge and approaches, and asking for fuller details. Trustee H. Barber was in a position to explain th: Board's requirements. Cr. Barber stated that the Board was of opinion that the charge to it was excessive, and, that, taking inU consideration the good that they had done to the Council's roads in quite a large area in that vicinity, the charge should be made lighter. It was decided to refer the question to the committee named above.

TANK WANTED,

Mr J. P. Finlayson, County surfaceman at Koputaroa, wrote asking for another tank to be provided, as the water supply was getting low.

On the chairman's motion, the application was referred to Crs. Catley and Kilsby, with power jto act if they think necessary. GRASS-SEED CUTTING.

Mr Frank R. Gyde, of Tokomaru, wrote asking for the right to cut and save the grass-seed on Hume’s Road, Tokomaru.

The application was granted,

Cr. Bryant said that he gave permission last season to a man to cut gras3 seed at Manakau. A, good deal of coclqsfoot jgrew on the road's there. The Council should have a ruling to show whether councillors were in order in granting such permission. The Chairman said, he thought that the matter was 6ne which was best left to the councillors in their ridings. REMOVAL OF BOULDERS. '

A letter was leeeivcd from Mrs Jane Jamieson, of Tokomaru. stating that employees of the Council were removing boulders from her property for crushing, and she would esteem it a favour if such'action were discontinued until some arrangement could be come to. The writer had river protection works which she wanted to remain intact; she wished to know who was receiving payment for the boulders that were being removed. The letter .was written on the advice of her lawyer. The chairman moved that the matter be referred to Cr. Whyte and the Engineer, with power to act. Ho remarked that apparently the changing

course of the river had something, to do with the trouble. The was seconded by Cr. Jensen vail'd' was carried. ARATANGATA DRAIN. The Works Committee recommended that Mrjrß'y Am/ Speirs be notified that, as he has along the Aratangata (Drain to (his prop/erty, tffe Council caimof Accede to his reque.3r for a bridge across the drain. It was furtherv-iecommencleo \by the Works Committee that no action be taken in respect to repairs to the flood-gate as contained in the offer of Mr W. Adiu. Both recommendations were adopted. COUNT Y COTTAGES. A special committee reported that, acting on instructions given by the Council, rhe County cottages at Werrroa, Koputaroa and Tokomaru and the garage at v fille Engineer’s residence, had been put in a good state of repair. —The report Avas adopted. INSTALLATION OF A RAM. On the recommendation of the Works (Committee, it was decided that Mr E. R. Vickers, of Weraroa, be granted permission to install a ram in the Avater lace Avhich passes through his property, the adjacent lanld-owners [having given their consent to the request. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. It Avas resolved, on the motion of the chairman, thai Avages and salaries for December and all necessary accounts be paid before the Christmas holidays, subject to confirmation at the next meeting of the Council, to be held on January 19; and that the County offices be closed from December 24th to January 2nd. THE SEASON'S GREETINGS. The chairman took the opportunity to Avish ; the councillors, the staff and the Press an enjoyable Christmas and a prosperous New Year, and to thank them for their very helpful services during the past year. It had been a somewhat strenuous j(ear for the Avhole Council and . particularly for himself and the staff. 'Any local body that Avent in for extensile Avork and ncAV ideas Avas bound to meet, with difficulties; these had been large in, the case of this Council, but they had to a great extent been overcome, the reason for Avhich Avas that the councillors had stood shoulder" to shoulder and had been able to \ put up a good fight. The ratepayers, the community and those AA'ho used the roads would, benefit by their construction. He desired to thank the Council for the unanimous support accorded him in formulating reasons for the : course of, action taken during the year. Thanks were due. in particular to the members of the .different committees. He felt that they had had very heavy Avork, which .they had done especially AVell. This was reflected in the County's business to-day and Avould no doubt be felt in the administration of County affairs for a long time to come. The prospects before the man on the land Avore now fairly bright, and if the good conditions existing at present continued, they should be able to say to themselves, Avithout even the assistance of. any neAv political party, that they Avere “out of the bush." The County Clerk, on behalf of the office' staff, ihanked the chairman for his kind expressions of appreciation, and the Council for its cordial co-op-eration A\dth the staff in the .work in which they were jointly engaged. At this time last-*year they all realised that the ensuing period Avas to be a very busy one, fraught Avith many difficulties, but he felt that the spirit evidenced at that time had’ carried them through the year and that they Avere uoav richer in knoAvledge than they Avere a year ago. He trusted that the chairman <hnd bouncillora Avould have a happy Christmas and a very bright and prosjjerous NeAV Year. The County Engineer, speaking for his Department, reciprocated the chairman's kind greetings. When lie had come to Levin and found the little cloud hanging over the County, he Avas not altogether pleased Avith himself, but now, Avith the co-operation of everybody concerned, things Avere certainly looking brighter and he hoped that the councillors Avould all come out smiling.